Vietnam made a big step in HIV/AIDS prevention and control

09/12/2014

Campaign on HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Vietnam

Human immunodeficiency virus infection
and acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(HIV/AIDS) is a disease spectrum
of the human immune system caused by infection with human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV). Following initial infection, a person may experience a brief
period of influenza-like illness. This is typically followed by a prolonged
period without symptoms. As the infection progresses, it interferes more and
more with the immune system, making the person much more susceptible to common
infections like tuberculosis, as well as opportunistic infections and tumors
that do not usually affect people who have working immune systems. The late
symptoms of the infection are referred to as AIDS. This stage is often complicated by an infection of the lung
known as pneumocystis pneumonia, severe weight loss, a type of cancer known as
Kaposi's sarcoma, or other AIDS-defining conditions.

In Vietnam, there
were 250 000 people living with HIV and 14 000 new HIV infections in 2013. In
2014, more than 87 000 people were accessing HIV treatment, a 30-fold increase
since 2005, but just one third of all people living with HIV.

Vietnam is considered a role model in the fight against
HIV/AIDS in Southeast Asia , with the lowest
rate of HIV infections. The implementation of effective policies and the
national HIV/AIDS prevention programme have made modern treatment options and
anti-retroviral (ARV) medication widely available.

The
fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic has been going on for 20 years. There was a
period from 1995 to 2005 where we faced extreme difficulties as HIV spread
rapidly. However, because the desire to combat this disease remains strong
throughout the entire political system, we have gradually brought the situation
under control. In addition, our strategies to fight HIV/AIDS have been
consistent with international practice. For that reason, we received a lot of
support from the international community. Since 2009, the number of new HIV
infections has steadily decreased. Also, we have built well-trained task forces
that are on active duty around the country. Another remarkable figure is that
nearly 70,000 HIV/AIDS patients have received treatment – an achievement we did
not dare to dream of 10 years ago. The HIV-infected patients have growing
confidence in the Government so they participate more actively in the HIV/AIDS
efforts initiated by the Government.

As
we have successfully emerged from poverty to become a low middle-income
country, we now face the challenge of reduced international assistance. It
makes sense that donors would relocate resources to more economically
challenged countries. We are facing an imminent shortage of resources for
HIV/AIDS. Over the last decade, we have increased the level of funding for
HIV/AIDS activities from US$0.06 to $1 per capita. International assistance
accounts for 80 per cent of the total: the annual funding from the State hovers
around $7 million, while contributions from donors can be as high as $87
million. Once these contributions stop, we will face an enormous challenge. And
in the absence of international support, our capacity to build HIV/AIDS task
forces will be greatly affected. These are concerns that the Government has
started to address.

Meanwhile,
the reduction of international assistance occurs as the HIV epidemic in Viet Nam is
undergoing a dramatic shift. HIV infection is no longer concentrated in urban
areas but has begun to spread to remote rural districts. As HIV finds its way
to ethnic people who have struggled with poverty for years, new challenges
emerge. Another new challenge is that drug users, especially youngsters, have
switched to synthetic drugs. Without continued funding, we may face a new wave
of the HIV epidemic.

To
move forward, first of all, we need to maintain the strong political will to
combat this disease that was displayed in previous years. Secondly, the
National Assembly should revisit its budget plan to allocate more funding for
HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. While it is inevitable that we must increase
the funding from the State budget, we also need to draw resources from other
stakeholders. Why don't we begin with the community itself? As of now, all of
the HIV-related treatment expenses are fully covered, so we should come up with
mechanisms that are more selective. For example, patients who are in better
financial condition should be required to share their burdens with the State.
We could also seek support from enterprises, charity organisations and
religious groups. Advisors even recommended the Government use Official
Development Assistance in the fight against the HIV epidemic, just as these
funds are used to develop infrastructure.

Recently, the
Government of Viet Nam announced on 25 October its commitment to new targets
intended to rapidly expand HIV treatment, thus becoming the first country in Asia to adopt the 90–90–90 targets. Around the world,
momentum is building behind reaching 90–90–90 by 2020: 90% of people living
with HIV will know their HIV status; 90% of people who know their status are on
HIV treatment; and 90% of all people on treatment will have undetectable levels
of HIV in their body (known as viral suppression). Viet Nam’s commitment to these
ambitious targets puts the country on course to ending its AIDS epidemic by
2030.

In general, the
Government of Viet Nam has taken some bold steps to address these issues more
effectively. The National Assembly made a decision to stop sending sex workers
to five centres. The Government is working to shift more rapidly to
community-based and voluntary drug treatment services. All of these brave
efforts are facilitating greater access to HIV services. Viet Nam is an emerging regional
leader on these issues. UN organizations would like to congratulate the
Government of Viet Nam for this and encourage additional focus on HIV services
that are proven to be effective and focus on the populations in greatest need.

We
believe that in the near future, Vietnam will have great achievement
in the fight against the HIV and other diseases./.

The country has also exerted efforts to ensure equal access by all people to social welfare, medical care as well as HIV/AIDS preventive services and treatment, which is highlighted in the revised Constitution 2013,

Vietnam need international organizations to continue encouraging international organisations to assist Vietnam in eliminating the pandemic by 2030 with priority given to preventive intervention measures and antiretroviral (ARV) drug and Methadone treatment.

The most important solution is to help people to enhance the awareness, capacity in effective response to HIV / AIDS, and support skills and expertise to develop, supervise the implementation of legislation related to HIV / AIDS.